Granted Sharjah land cannot be sold before registration: Court

PublishedFriday, June 15, 2012

A plot of land granted to a Sharjah citizen by the emirate’s government can be taken back at any time until it is registered in the name of the person to whom it was granted, according to a verdict of the UAE Federal Supreme Court.

The court also ruled that such a plot of land can be sold, mortgaged or inherited only after registering it in the name of the person to whom it was granted.

The apex court laid down these legal principles while considering a lawsuit brought by a UAE citizen against another Emirati. The plaintiff had asked the court to order the defendant to return the money that he had paid to buy a plot of land from the latter.

The plaintiff said after the purchase, he discovered that the land, granted by the Sharjah government, was not registered in the seller’s name.

In its verdict, the court ordered the sale of land to be rescinded.

The court also compelled the seller to return to the plaintiff Dh140,000, being the purchase price of the land, plus Dh200,000 as compensation.

The court said its decision was based on the local laws of the emirate of Sharjah which allows the person who is granted land to start construction on it within six months. But the land grant can be withdrawn if he fails to start building within this period.